License to Ill Trill

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Can anyone tell me what's been happening in hip-hop this year? The only things that have crossed my radar: that Lil Wayne (?) essay that everyone linked to a couple of months ago, but I've no idea where to start with his stuff; the Cool Kids' 'Bake Sale' (which I really like but is v. openly retro); an album by TI I never listened to; a ropey Fannypack collection of odds and sods; and Roots Manuva a sole concession to the UK.

So I basically have no idea what is hot and what is not; what the trends are or what the big tunes are. I blame this on being a bit distracted this year, on living in a part of the world where the only place you can hear hip-hop being played is in clothing stores whose playlists are sent up from London. If anyone has recommendations for places on the web to keep up with this sort of thing - other than the New Yorker which seems a slightly perverse direction from which to view the world of rap - that would be helpful too!

Help me o cosmpolitan poptimists!